The Cleveland Guardians have been without their best starter and one of their most reliable relievers for several months.
Shane Bieber underwent Tommy John surgery just two starts into his 2024 campaign and has been rehabbing since.
Meanwhile, Trevor Stephan hasn’t thrown a major league pitch since 2023: he missed the entire 2024 season after having the elbow ligament replacement procedure in late March 2024.
The team is expecting both to contribute in 2025, but they are not quite ready yet.
They are making strides, though.
In fact, they will both take a significant step towards returning to the Guardians this month.
“Cleveland #Guardians RHP’s Shane Bieber and Trevor Stephan are scheduled to start throwing in games some time this May out at the organizations Goodyear Development Complex. The Arizona Complex League Opening Day starts this upcoming Saturday May 3rd,” Guardians Prospective posted on X.
Cleveland #Guardians RHP's Shane Bieber and Trevor Stephan are scheduled to start throwing in games some time this May out at the organizations Goodyear Development Complex.
The Arizona Complex League Opening Day starts this upcoming Saturday May 3rd.
— Guardians Prospective (@CleGuardPro) April 28, 2025
Bieber is one of the league’s best pitchers when healthy.
He showed as much last year in the two starts he made in March and April: he covered 12 innings while allowing no runs and striking out 20 batters.
Unfortunately, he blew out his elbow and needed surgery.
You could very well argue that the Guardians could have reached the World Series had they been able to count on Bieber’s health last year.
Stephan, the owner of a career 3.73 ERA and many more strikeouts than innings pitched, is a difference-maker in the bullpen when fully healthy.
We saw that in 2023 when he posted a 2.69 ERA and punched out 82 batters in 63.2 frames.
Both should be back sometime in May or June, injecting some life into Cleveland’s pitching staff.
In any case, returning to games means they are both ready to take things to the next level in their rehab.
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